10 Wardrobe Mistakes That Are Haunting Men

Fashion changes all the time but it’s the style that stays. People notice even the smallest details in one’s appearance, especially when meeting them for the first time. For example, 52% of women said they judge the personality of a man depending on the shoes he’s wearing. And shoes aren’t the only fashion items people pay attention to. Of course, there’s no universal rule on how to “look good” but there are some basic tips that can make men look more trendy and appealing.

1. You wear a formal shirt untucked.

All formal shirts, especially white ones, are designed to be worn with suit pants. This means that if you want to look stylish, you should never wear such shirts untucked with jeans or other non-formal pants. If you’re looking for a more casual look, choose colored shirts with a tighter fit.

2. You don’t wear socks.

Beach shoes and sandals are the only shoes you can wear sockless without ruining your shoes. Your legs sweat during the day and it gets into the shoes, damaging them and creating a bad smell. If you don’t want to show the upper part of your socks, just choose special no-show socks. They’ll cover your feet but not your ankles, so you’ll be able to create that trendy “barefoot” look without getting any blisters or smelly feet.

3. Your shirt is the wrong length.

A casual shirt can be a great option for any occasion: many men choose dress shirts as a casual option to cover some problem areas of the body. But dress shirts are designed to be tucked in (this is why they’re so long). So if you want to keep your look less formal, choose shorter shirts. The main rule is that the shirttail shouldn’t go too long past your wrist or any lower than your trouser pocket.

4. You don’t consider your body type when choosing a tie.

It’s generally considered that a good tie shouldn’t be wider than 3.75 inches (about 9.5 cm) or go lower than your belt buckle. However, when you’re choosing a tie, it’s essential to pay attention to your body type and the clothes you’re going to wear with it as well.

For example, many thinner men choose ties that are too wide for their body type. As a result, their whole outfit starts to look a bit sloppy because they’ve picked the wrong tie. So make sure that your tie not only meets all the formal criteria but also looks good on you.

5. You unbutton too many shirt buttons.

Although fastening all the buttons on your shirt doesn’t always seem like a good option (except for in situations where your job requires a strict dress code), showing too much skin won’t do the trick either.

In most cases, it’s enough to unbutton 1 or 2 buttons from the collar to get a more chic and relaxed look. If you’re attending a non-formal event, like a barbeque, you can also unbutton 2 lower buttons at the hem of your shirt. Remember, showing a lot of of your chest is only appropriate on the beach!

6. You overdo it with the accessories.

Many men want to combine all the accessories they have in one outfit. This can mean bracelets, a watch, a hat, a tie, a belt, and a collar pin being worn all at once. Keep in mind that having a good sense of style is about the ability to seamlessly blend all the small details into your look without overloading it. So choose a couple of your signature accessories to highlight your appearance and accentuate your strong features.

7. You always choose baggy jeans.

Good-fitted jeans are one of the most important pieces of clothing in your wardrobe since they can be worn on almost any occasion. That’s why it’s essential to choose the perfect pair of jeans in accordance with your body type. For example, bigger guys should try a pair of high-rise jeans, while thinner men can find regular-fitted jeans that are more complementary to their body.

Just remember that if you’re very skinny or have a bit of excess weight, going for baggy jeans in order to hide your imperfections can make the situation even worse. Such jeans just look too loose and don’t accentuate any features or contribute to your style.

8. Your undershirt is visible.

The main reason for wearing an undershirt is to protect your shirt from stains and sweat. This piece of clothing is considered to be underwear and according to the rules of etiquette, it’s better not to expose your underwear! Besides, doing so ruins your appearance, creating additional horizontal lines and distorting your body proportions. If the color of the T-shirt is different from your skin color, it can also be distracting and add unnecessary colors to your look.

9. You button the wrong buttons on your jacket.

Jacket buttoning rules are quite simple. If you’re wearing a 1-button jacket, leave it completely unbuttoned when you’re sitting and button it up when you’re standing. With a 2-button jacket, you should fasten only the upper button. With a 3-button jacket, you should follow the rule of “sometimes, always, never”. In other words, button the second button and the upper button if you feel like it.

10. You choose a poor-quality fabric.

If you don’t want to spend a fortune to look expensive, choose natural fibers like cotton instead of polyester. Synthetic fibers usually lose their shape after a couple of washes and stretch pretty easily.

Besides, some polyester clothes can look too shiny which makes your look cheaper and less sophisticated. Natural fibers let your skin breathe so you won’t sweat as much, especially in summer, and your clothes will look fresh and clean even at the end of a long day.